President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing it as a transformative project and a powerful testament to Nigeria’s industrial potential. Speaking during the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road at the Dangote Refinery complex in Lagos on Thursday, Tinubu referred to the refinery as “a great point of reference, a great phenomenon of our time, and a massive investment.”
The President expressed gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, for his sustained commitment to national development through landmark private-sector investments.
“Having inspected the Dangote refinery, which is a great point of reference and a phenomenon of our time, I want to thank Aliko Dangote,” said Tinubu, according to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Legacy Projects and Economic Impact
Tinubu also reflected on the significance of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a project he initiated during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. He noted that the port now saves users substantial logistics costs by eliminating the need for trans-shipment of goods.
He commended Dangote Industries Limited and Hitech Construction Company Limited for the high standards achieved in delivering the access road under the government’s Tax Credit Road programme.
In his remarks, Aliko Dangote thanked the President for championing the Lekki port project and reiterated the private sector’s readiness to support infrastructure expansion across the country.
Tinubu Urges State-Federal Alignment on Infrastructure Projects
President Tinubu used the occasion to call for deeper collaboration between state governments and federal agencies to streamline major infrastructure initiatives.
“I have directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Surveyor General to work more closely with governors,” Tinubu stated.
He urged governors to coordinate planning approvals with federal authorities to prevent delays and reduce compensation burdens.
Tinubu also emphasized a nationwide ban on dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of all bridges, directing all state governments, relevant agencies, and security forces to enforce the policy immediately.
“Let’s work together to achieve the same development goals,” he appealed.
Renewed Infrastructure Push
The commissioning comes just five days after Tinubu flagged off Phase 1 of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering lasting infrastructure and dismissed critics of ongoing mega-projects as uninformed about their planning and execution.
He extended commendations to the Federal Ministry of Works, BUA Group, Dangote Group, and all contractors actively contributing to Nigeria’s road network development.
Background: Dangote Refinery’s Regional Significance
Commissioned in May 2023, the Dangote Refinery is Africa’s largest, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependency on fuel imports and boost regional energy security.
During a recent visit, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, hailed the refinery as a “beacon of hope for Africa’s future” and a clear demonstration of the private sector’s capacity to drive industrialization across the continent.
The refinery is currently ramping up operations, with at least five million barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude scheduled for delivery in July, following what is projected to be a record intake in June.
